São Paulo – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced today (13th) the appointment of the Moroccan Nawal El Moutawakel to chair the Coordination Commission for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, due 2016. According to the IOC, the commission, comprised of 17 members of different nationalities, will be in charge of assisting the Organizing Committee and monitoring the preparations.
Winner of the gold medal in the 400-metre hurdles in the Los Angeles Olympics, in 1984, Nawal is also a former Moroccan minister of Youth and Sports. She has been a member of the organization since 1998.
“Nawal El Moutawakel is ideally suited to lead our highly experienced and multifaceted team of experts,” said the IOC president, Jacques Rogge, according to a release issued by the organization. “As an Olympic gold medallist and Chairman of the IOC Evaluation Committee for the last two Olympiads, she knows the Games inside and out, is well-acquainted with the Rio organizers and has the experience and leadership abilities to ensure that Rio is 100% ready to host a fantastic Games in 2016,” he added.
According to the IOC, the Coordination Committee brings together representatives of various segments of the Olympic Movement, such as athletes, national committees and sports federations. It provides a link between the Organizer Committee and other instances of the Olympic Movement.
Still according to the IOC, Nawal claimed that she is honoured to be the first woman in the position. “Having chaired the Evaluation Committee for the 2016 Games, I have first-hand knowledge of the many strengths that Rio and Brazil have to offer, and together we will strive to showcase that to the world in six years’ time,” she said.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
